Title
Resolution to Approve FY25-27 Allocations for 3-Year High Impact Grants and Annual Mini-Grants as Part of the New Human Services Partnership ($495,087.00)
Memorandum
In 2022, Washtenaw County, the City of Ann Arbor and the Washtenaw Urban County created the New Human Services Partnership to replace Washtenaw Coordinated Funding that ended in 2021.
The Washtenaw County and City of Ann Arbor NHSP Leadership team have been integral to the development of the New Human Services Partnership, which is working to integrate equity throughout the process, and shift the focus of human services funding to address issues of poverty, racism, and trauma as the root cause of institutional inequities.
As a reminder, the overall goals of this funding program include:
• Desire to make impact and move the needle for those facing institutional inequities, while also supporting the safety net.
• Incorporate Equity throughout the process including:
o Accessibility to the application process
o Community-inclusive review process
o Equity review of applicants prior to award / contracting
o Equity in service delivery
• Focus on addressing institutional racism, poverty, and trauma as root causes of institutional inequity.
• Redevelop strategic framework for investing resources to be focused on an Equitable grant making process while achieving high impact outcomes.
o Outcomes/goals co-created with experts and community
o Incorporate lessons learned from COVID-19 response and previous
COFU model
o Accessibility for grantees - allow for under-represented, new, or growing
groups to access funding
o Ease of process - for applicants and staff
o Flexibility in funding/programming to allow for pivots and learning, including
emerging needs
• Partnership continues to allow for shared communication, links to community partners, ongoing need, support in place, etc.
The New Human Services Partnership incorporates an enhanced evaluation and equity assessment component supported by the University of Michigan School of Social Work Program Evaluation Group. The U of M Program Evaluation Group (PEG) supports each grantee in conducting an equity self-assessment and provides feedback and other forms of support to help grantees take steps to create practices that promote equity, such as developing board members and staff that represent the communities being served. All New Human Services Partnership grantees receive intentional support that allows them to build capacity to sustain the equitable practices they start during the grant period.
Additionally, grantees are required to make progress on the DEI goals set in this action plan and improve the equity practices of the organization in order to continue being funded throughout the five-year funding period. This accountability measure helps prevent grantees from neglecting their identified areas of growth and helps ensure that human services in Washtenaw County continually improve at promoting equity.
In addition to the support around equity and DEI, the U of M Program Evaluation Group works with all grantees around data collection, outcome creation and regular reporting on data, metrics and evaluations. PEG is providing capacity building to agencies related to data collection and reporting as well.
Detailed information on the equity framework and overall timeline can be found on the webpage here: <<https://www.washtenaw.org/3422/New-Human-Services-Partnership-Planning>>
As part of the process, three different funding rounds were held:
• Safety Net Grants:
o 5-year commitments in the range of $200,000.00-300,000.00 per grantee per year (One time process)
• High-Impact grants:
o 5-year commitments with an expectation of positive outcomes showing real change for households served. Funding at $200,000.00-300,000.00 per grantee per year (One time process)
• Mini- grants:
o 1-year grants to support trying new ideas, and/or different strategies up to $40,000.00 (Annual Process)
Several funding sources support the overall New Human Services Partnership including the following:
• Washtenaw County General Fund (annual) - $1,207,529.00
• City of Ann Arbor General Fund (annual) - $1,207,529.00
• Washtenaw Urban County (annual)- 15% of Annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) (estimated at $316,385.00 annually)
• Washtenaw Urban County Community Development Block COVID grant (CDBG-CV) one-time - $608,347.00
The intent of this resolution is to allocate budgeted funds for the Safety-Net, High Impact and Mini-grant for FY25- 27.
Staff
Prepared by: Ellis Johnson II, Finance and Operations Division Administrator, Office of Community & Economic Development
Reviewed by: Derek Delacourt, Community Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, In the past, Ann Arbor City Council has allocated funding to community-based organizations for the purpose of delivering important human services to Ann Arbor and County residents;
Whereas, The Coordinated Funding Partnership was the previous means by which this funding was allocated, and this process ended on June 30, 2021, and the New Human Services Partnership was created to fill the gap in collaborative human services funding;
Whereas, The Ann Arbor City Council approved distributing funding based on its previous budgeted allocation of $1,207,529.00 annually for all three funding rounds of the New Human Services Partnership;
Whereas, The New Human Services Partnership is funded by Washtenaw County general funds, City of Ann Arbor general funds, City of Ann Arbor American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, Washtenaw Urban County CDBG and CDBG-CV funds;
Whereas, Of the total funding allocated, the budgeted annual amount for High Impact Grants is $350,183.00;
Whereas, Of the total funding allocated, the budgeted annual amount for each round of 1 year Mini Grants is $144,904.00;
Whereas, The Ann Arbor City Council previously approved the funding recommendation made by the Office of Community and Economic Development based on the community review process for RFP 8419 (High Impact Grants) and RFP 8586 (Y2 Mini-Grants);
Whereas, The Office of Community and Economic Development will continue to bring annual Mini-Grant funding recommendations for consideration and approval by the Ann Arbor City Council;
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council hereby approves funding up to $350,183.00 of the $1,207,529.00 allocated to the New Human Services Partnership for the High Impact Funding Round, for the three-year period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027;
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council hereby approves funding up to $144,904.00 of the $1,207,529.00 allocated to the New Human Services Partnership for the annual Mini-Grant Funding, for the three-year period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027;
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator is authorized to direct the Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development to negotiate contractual agreements with funded entities subject to approval by the City Administrator and City Attorney; and
RESOLVED, That these agreements may be achieved through delegation of contracts and administration of funds to Washtenaw County on the City’s behalf.